How life has changed in Swindon

Swindon's population increased by about 29,100 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 200,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Swindon increased by 16.2%, from just over 180,000 to 209,000.

The addition of just over 29,000 people means this area's population was the fastest-growing in the South West and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Swindon was home to, on average, 6.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Swindon

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Swindon increased by two years, from 36 to 38 years.

This area had a lower average age than the South West and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 8,100 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 80.

About 16.0% of people in Swindon are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Swindon by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Swindon

In 2011, 6.4% of Swindon residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 2.6% in 2001. The 3.8 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across the South West, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 1.0% to 2.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 89.8% of people in Swindon said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 95.2% in 2001. About 2.0% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 1.1% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.7% to 1.4%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Swindon increased by 3.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Swindon by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Swindon residents that were unemployed increased from 2.5% to 4.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (61.0%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 63.3% in 2001. The percentage of Swindon residents that were self-employed increased from 6.2% to 7.8%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the South West. The improvement brought health in Swindon close to the national average 4.4% in England described their health as good in 2011).

The rate of unemployment in Swindon increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Swindon, the South West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Swindon with children remained close to 30.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that had no children remained close to 60.8%, while the percentage of households in Swindon with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 8.6% to 8.5%.

The proportion of households with children increased faster here than anywhere else in the South West. As a result, this area had the region’s third highest proportion of households with children.

Gloucester had the South West's highest proportion of households with children (30.8%), while South Gloucestershire had the region's second highest proportion (30.6%).

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

Swindon saw the South West's third-largest rise in the proportion of privately rented homes.

In 2011, just under one in six (16.0%) households in Swindon rented privately, compared with 7.5% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes decreased from 17.0% to 16.3%.

Across the region, only Bristol (from 13.3% to 23.6%) and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (from 12.8% to 22.3%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of privately rented homes.

During this period, Swindon went from having the 27th-highest to the 14th-highest percentage of private renting out of 309 English local authority areas.

Private renting in Swindon increased by 8.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Swindon, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Swindon working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 10.8% to 8.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, about 1 in 40 (2.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13.3% in 2001 to 10.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Swindon decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Swindon, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Swindon residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.3% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.8%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Swindon remained close to 1.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Swindon by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Swindon

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Swindon was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.5 points.

In 2011, 33.3% of respondents in Swindon gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 20.8% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.5% to 32.2%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Swindon, 61.7% said they were Christian, compared with 76.1% in 2001. About 1.8% said they were Muslim, compared with 1.1% a decade prior.

In Swindon, 6.8% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 8.0% in 2001. Across the South West, 7.9% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Swindon increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South West and Swindon by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Swindon

The percentage of Swindon residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.1% to 5.9% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.7%, while the percentage of Swindon residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90.7%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 7.0% in 2001 to 7.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing relationships in Swindon

The percentage of adults in Swindon that were married decreased from 53.0% to 48.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in three (32.4%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 28.6% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Swindon that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11.3% to 12.7%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 53.2% in 2001 to 49.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 50.6% to 46.6%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Swindon residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.7% to 4.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83.4%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70.7% in 2001. The percentage of Swindon residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.6% to 12.0%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Swindon decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Swindon, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Swindon, which comprised a single parent, increased from 8.4% to 9.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in three (35.4%) households had a married couple, compared with 39.3% in 2001. The percentage of households in Swindon, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.9% to 11.7%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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